One in seven Christians worldwide faced discrimination or violence as faith-based repression intensified across multiple regions.
By yourNEWS Media Newsroom
An estimated 388 million Christians worldwide experienced persecution or discrimination over the past year, according to a newly released international advocacy report from Open Doors, a Christian humanitarian organization that tracks religious freedom violations.
The findings, which cover the period from September 2024 through September 2025, indicate that roughly one in seven Christians globally faced some form of repression linked to their faith. The total represents an increase of approximately 8 million people compared with the previous reporting period.
Open Doors Chief Executive Officer Ryan Brown said the scale of persecution has reached unprecedented levels. He said the data show that for hundreds of millions of believers, openly practicing Christianity has become increasingly difficult under political, social, and security pressures.
Nigeria continued to record the highest number of lethal attacks against Christians. Of the 4,849 Christians reported killed worldwide for their faith during the year, 3,490 were in Nigeria — a sharp rise from the previous year’s figures.
Henrietta Blyth, chief executive of Open Doors UK, said violence in Nigeria has increasingly targeted women, girls, and religious leaders, citing kidnappings, executions, and attacks on churches as persistent threats to Christian communities. She described the toll on families and congregations as devastating, according to comments previously reported by Newsweek.
Somalia ranked as the second most dangerous country in the world for Christians for the fourth consecutive year. Open Doors reported that converts from Islam face extreme risks, including threats of execution. Aweis Ali, a Somali convert from Islam, said Christians in the country live under constant fear, describing an environment where discovery of faith can lead to immediate violence.
The report identified 15 countries that recorded their highest levels of anti-Christian violence since tracking began, accounting for nearly one-third of the 50 countries monitored.
North Korea again ranked among the most repressive nations. The report said authorities there are increasingly using artificial intelligence and surveillance technology to detect religious activity, though Open Doors noted that underground Christian communities continue to grow despite the restrictions.
Other countries classified as having extreme levels of persecution include Yemen, Sudan, Eritrea, Syria, Pakistan, Libya, Iran, Afghanistan, India, Saudi Arabia, Myanmar, and Mali.
The organization said the findings underscore a continued global decline in religious freedom and called for increased international attention to faith-based human rights violations.
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